SCA-301 Skimmer.

[NanaReefer]

Well I've been running this skimmer for 7 months now. My first in sump skimmer (rated 65g) on my 40B. Low bio-load 3 fish, 16 corals, LPS/SPS, but i feed heavy and I run a sock.
Gotta say, for a $94.00 skimmer this thing rocks!
3 days worth the nog

 

[DFW]

I got a used one a few weeks ago, and in spite of the manufacturer telling me that it won't work in 4 1/2 inches of water, it seems to do pretty good.

 

[Wiz]

I run This skimmer. Its been suggested that I mod it. Have you guys?

 

[NanaReefer]

Mod it how?

 

[Wiz]

Not 100%. But I believe the idea was to cut the outlet shorter. Not sure why. I think to reduce micro bubbles. Thats what I found when I tried looking it up. But I have a bubble catch before and after my fuge. So I get bubbles in my fuge and macros. But the second catchs what's left before return to display. So I don't think its needed. But I'm unsure if it is supposed ti affect its performance. Mine is a pain because I don't have an auto top off. So my water level is inconsistant. It has to be adjusted daily. :-( works well as long as I keep up with it though

 

[Wiz]

My skimmate is very light colored compared to yours

 

[Wiz]

See

 

[DFW]

My skimmate is very light colored compared to yours

Skim dryer, I guess! I get dark skim when the bottom of the bubbles is about 1/4 inch below the plastic with the numbers on it. It is slower, but much dirtier.

 

[NanaReefer]

What's with the sponge? Is that in front of the skimmer pump intake? Where are you adding your top off water at?

Have you considered a gravity fed top off? Very simple, consistent drip method. Would help a bunch keeping your level up.

 

[Wiz]

What's with the sponge? Is that in front of the skimmer pump intake? Where are you adding your top off water at?

Have you considered a gravity fed top off? Very simple, consistent drip method. Would help a bunch keeping your level up.

That is the out flow not the intake. Although I have one on the intake as well. I have a tiny yellow watchman that got into the inner most chamber of the skimmer. I am pretty sure he got in through the intake. But people said its impossable. So I blocked both. There is a thread called unbelievable that talks about it wit h pics. And I add ro to the skimmer/heater section.

 

[jent]

My skimmate is very light colored compared to yours

How deep is the water that your skimmer is sitting in? It looks pretty deep, which would cause thin skimmate.

 

[NanaReefer]

I don't see how the fish would have gotten past the impeller of the pump-crazy!
IMO those sponges, especially the intake one, are only going to impede the skimmers performance. Better off putting the sponge in the overflow box, or there abouts.

 

[Wiz]

How deep is the water that your skimmer is sitting in? It looks pretty deep, which would cause thin skimmate.

U know I redi signed the sump a while back. Didnt even consider height. Duh lol. 9-10" which is too deep. Thx :-D

 

[Wiz]

I don't see how the fish would have gotten past the impeller of the pump-crazy!
IMO those sponges, especially the intake one, are only going to impede the skimmers performance. Better off putting the sponge in the overflow box, or there abouts.

I don't believe he would fit through the bubble plate. But maybe. I wanted to block the overflow but I'm afraid of flooding. I thought about a filter sock on the down pipe but I don't want the goby to get caught and die. I couldn't think of another way. The skimmer seems to work the same. They are very large holed sponges and I clean them every two days or so. He hasn't gone down the overflow since I installed them. Figures. Lol

 

[DFW]

I use the coarse sponge on the intake of mine to keep from killing my stomatellas. The skimmer works fine. I clean the sponge every week.